Sensitive \Sen"si*tive\, a. [F. sensitif. See Sense.]
1. Having sense of feeling; possessing or exhibiting the
capacity of receiving impressions from external objects;
as, a sensitive soul.
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2. Having quick and acute sensibility, either to the action
of external objects, or to impressions upon the mind and
feelings; highly susceptible; easily and acutely affected.
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She was too sensitive to abuse and calumny.
--Macaulay.
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3.
(a) (Mech.) Having a capacity of being easily affected or
moved; as, a sensitive thermometer; sensitive scales.
(b) (Chem. & Photog.) Readily affected or changed by
certain appropriate agents; as, silver chloride or
bromide, when in contact with certain organic
substances, is extremely sensitive to actinic rays.
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4. Serving to affect the sense; sensible. [R.]
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A sensitive love of some sensitive objects.
--Hammond.
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5. Of or pertaining to sensation; depending on sensation; as,
sensitive motions; sensitive muscular motions excited by
irritation. --E. Darwin.
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Sensitive fern (Bot.), an American fern (Onoclea
sensibilis), the leaves of which, when plucked, show a
slight tendency to fold together.
Sensitive flame (Physics), a gas flame so arranged that
under a suitable adjustment of pressure it is exceedingly
sensitive to sounds, being caused to roar, flare, or
become suddenly shortened or extinguished, by slight
sounds of the proper pitch.
Sensitive joint vetch (Bot.), an annual leguminous herb
(Aeschynomene hispida), with sensitive foliage.
Sensitive paper, paper prepared for photographic purpose by
being rendered sensitive to the effect of light.
Sensitive plant. (Bot.)
(a) A leguminous plant (Mimosa pudica, or Mimosa
sensitiva, and other allied species), the leaves of
which close at the slightest touch.
(b) Any plant showing motions after irritation, as the
sensitive brier (Schrankia) of the Southern States,
two common American species of Cassia (Cassia
nictitans, and Cassia Chamaecrista), a kind of
sorrel (Oxalis sensitiva), etc.
[1913 Webster] -- Sen"si*tive*ly, adv. --
Sen"si*tive*ness, n.
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Partridge \Par"tridge\ (p[aum]r"tr[i^]j), n. [OE. partriche,
pertriche, OF. pertris, perdriz, F. perdrix, L. perdix,
-icis, fr. Gr. pe`rdix.] (Zool.)
1. Any one of numerous species of small gallinaceous birds of
the genus Perdix and several related genera of the
family Perdicid[ae], of the Old World. The partridge is
noted as a game bird.
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Full many a fat partrich had he in mew. --Chaucer.
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Note: The common European, or gray, partridge (Perdix
cinerea) and the red-legged partridge (Caccabis
rubra) of Southern Europe and Asia are well-known
species.
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2. Any one of several species of quail-like birds belonging
to Colinus, and allied genera. [U.S.]
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Note: Among them are the bobwhite (Colinus Virginianus) of
the Eastern States; the plumed, or mountain, partridge
(Oreortyx pictus) of California; the Massena
partridge (Cyrtonyx Montezum[ae]); and the California
partridge (Callipepla Californica).
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3. The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). [New Eng.]
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Bamboo partridge (Zool.), a spurred partridge of the genus
Bambusicola. Several species are found in China and the
East Indies.
Night partridge (Zool.), the woodcock. [Local, U.S.]
Painted partridge (Zool.), a francolin of South Africa
(Francolinus pictus).
Partridge berry. (Bot.)
(a) The scarlet berry of a trailing american plant
(Mitchella repens) of the order Rubiace[ae],
having roundish evergreen leaves, and white fragrant
flowers sometimes tinged with purple, growing in pairs
with the ovaries united, and producing the berries
which remain over winter; also, the plant itself.
(b) The fruit of the creeping wintergreen (Gaultheria
procumbens); also, the plant itself.
Partridge dove (Zool.) Same as Mountain witch, under
Mountain.
Partridge pea (Bot.), a yellow-flowered leguminous herb
(Cassia Cham[ae]crista), common in sandy fields in the
Eastern United States.
Partridge shell (Zool.), a large marine univalve shell
(Dolium perdix), having colors variegated like those of
the partridge.
Partridge wood
(a) A variegated wood, much esteemed for cabinetwork. It
is obtained from tropical America, and one source of
it is said to be the leguminous tree Andira inermis.
Called also pheasant wood.
(b) A name sometimes given to the dark-colored and
striated wood of some kind of palm, which is used for
walking sticks and umbrella handles.
Sea partridge (Zool.), an Asiatic sand partridge
(Ammoperdix Bonhami); -- so called from its note.
Snow partridge (Zool.), a large spurred partridge (Lerwa
nivicola) which inhabits the high mountains of Asia;
called also jermoonal.
Spruce partridge. See under Spruce.
Wood partridge, or Hill partridge (Zool.), any small
Asiatic partridge of the genus Arboricola.
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Wild \Wild\, a. [Compar. Wilder; superl. Wildest.] [OE.
wilde, AS. wilde; akin to OFries. wilde, D. wild, OS. & OHG.
wildi, G. wild, Sw. & Dan. vild, Icel. villr wild,
bewildered, astray, Goth. wilpeis wild, and G. & OHG. wild
game, deer; of uncertain origin.]
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1. Living in a state of nature; inhabiting natural haunts, as
the forest or open field; not familiar with, or not easily
approached by, man; not tamed or domesticated; as, a wild
boar; a wild ox; a wild cat.
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Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that
way. --Shak.
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2. Growing or produced without culture; growing or prepared
without the aid and care of man; native; not cultivated;
brought forth by unassisted nature or by animals not
domesticated; as, wild parsnip, wild camomile, wild
strawberry, wild honey.
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The woods and desert caves,
With wild thyme and gadding vine o'ergrown.
--Milton.
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3. Desert; not inhabited or cultivated; as, wild land. "To
trace the forests wild." --Shak.
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4. Savage; uncivilized; not refined by culture; ferocious;
rude; as, wild natives of Africa or America.
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5. Not submitted to restraint, training, or regulation;
turbulent; tempestuous; violent; ungoverned; licentious;
inordinate; disorderly; irregular; fanciful; imaginary;
visionary; crazy. "Valor grown wild by pride." --Prior. "A
wild, speculative project." --Swift.
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What are these
So withered and so wild in their attire ? --Shak.
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With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes
Wild work in heaven. --Milton.
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The wild winds howl. --Addison.
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Search then the ruling passion, there, alone
The wild are constant, and the cunning known.
--Pope.
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6. Exposed to the wind and sea; unsheltered; as, a wild
roadstead.
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7. Indicating strong emotion, intense excitement, or
?ewilderment; as, a wild look.
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8. (Naut.) Hard to steer; -- said of a vessel.
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Note: Many plants are named by prefixing wild to the names of
other better known or cultivated plants to which they a
bear a real or fancied resemblance; as, wild allspice,
wild pink, etc. See the Phrases below.
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To run wild, to go unrestrained or untamed; to live or
untamed; to live or grow without culture or training.
To sow one's wild oats. See under Oat.
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Wild allspice. (Bot.), spicewood.
Wild balsam apple (Bot.), an American climbing
cucurbitaceous plant (Echinocystis lobata).
Wild basil (Bot.), a fragrant labiate herb (Calamintha
Clinopodium) common in Europe and America.
Wild bean (Bot.), a name of several leguminous plants,
mostly species of Phaseolus and Apios.
Wild bee (Zool.), any one of numerous species of
undomesticated social bees, especially the domestic bee
when it has escaped from domestication and built its nest
in a hollow tree or among rocks.
Wild bergamot. (Bot.) See under Bergamot.
Wild boar (Zool.), the European wild hog (Sus scrofa),
from which the common domesticated swine is descended.
Wild brier (Bot.), any uncultivated species of brier. See
Brier.
Wild bugloss (Bot.), an annual rough-leaved plant
(Lycopsis arvensis) with small blue flowers.
Wild camomile (Bot.), one or more plants of the composite
genus Matricaria, much resembling camomile.
Wild cat. (Zool.)
(a) A European carnivore (Felis catus) somewhat
resembling the domestic cat, but larger stronger, and
having a short tail. It is destructive to the smaller
domestic animals, such as lambs, kids, poultry, and
the like.
(b) The common American lynx, or bay lynx.
(c) (Naut.) A wheel which can be adjusted so as to revolve
either with, or on, the shaft of a capstan. --Luce.
Wild celery. (Bot.) See Tape grass, under Tape.
Wild cherry. (Bot.)
(a) Any uncultivated tree which bears cherries. The wild
red cherry is Prunus Pennsylvanica. The wild black
cherry is Prunus serotina, the wood of which is much
used for cabinetwork, being of a light red color and a
compact texture.
(b) The fruit of various species of Prunus.
Wild cinnamon. See the Note under Canella.
Wild comfrey (Bot.), an American plant (Cynoglossum
Virginicum) of the Borage family. It has large bristly
leaves and small blue flowers.
Wild cumin (Bot.), an annual umbelliferous plant
(Lag[oe]cia cuminoides) native in the countries about
the Mediterranean.
Wild drake (Zool.) the mallard.
Wild elder (Bot.), an American plant (Aralia hispida) of
the Ginseng family.
Wild fowl (Zool.) any wild bird, especially any of those
considered as game birds.
Wild goose (Zool.), any one of several species of
undomesticated geese, especially the Canada goose (Branta
Canadensis), the European bean goose, and the graylag.
See Graylag, and Bean goose, under Bean.
Wild goose chase, the pursuit of something unattainable, or
of something as unlikely to be caught as the wild goose.
--Shak.
Wild honey, honey made by wild bees, and deposited in
trees, rocks, the like.
Wild hyacinth. (Bot.) See Hyacinth, 1
(b) .
Wild Irishman (Bot.), a thorny bush (Discaria Toumatou)
of the Buckthorn family, found in New Zealand, where the
natives use the spines in tattooing.
Wild land.
(a) Land not cultivated, or in a state that renders it
unfit for cultivation.
(b) Land which is not settled and cultivated.
Wild licorice. (Bot.) See under Licorice.
Wild mammee (Bot.), the oblong, yellowish, acid fruit of a
tropical American tree (Rheedia lateriflora); -- so
called in the West Indies.
Wild marjoram (Bot.), a labiate plant (Origanum vulgare)
much like the sweet marjoram, but less aromatic.
Wild oat. (Bot.)
(a) A tall, oatlike kind of soft grass (Arrhenatherum
avenaceum).
(b) See Wild oats, under Oat.
Wild pieplant (Bot.), a species of dock (Rumex
hymenosepalus) found from Texas to California. Its acid,
juicy stems are used as a substitute for the garden
rhubarb.
Wild pigeon. (Zool.)
(a) The rock dove.
(b) The passenger pigeon.
Wild pink (Bot.), an American plant (Silene
Pennsylvanica) with pale, pinkish flowers; a kind of
catchfly.
Wild plantain (Bot.), an arborescent endogenous herb
(Heliconia Bihai), much resembling the banana. Its
leaves and leaf sheaths are much used in the West Indies
as coverings for packages of merchandise.
Wild plum. (Bot.)
(a) Any kind of plum growing without cultivation.
(b) The South African prune. See under Prune.
Wild rice. (Bot.) See Indian rice, under Rice.
Wild rosemary (Bot.), the evergreen shrub Andromeda
polifolia. See Marsh rosemary, under Rosemary.
Wild sage. (Bot.) See Sagebrush.
Wild sarsaparilla (Bot.), a species of ginseng (Aralia
nudicaulis) bearing a single long-stalked leaf.
Wild sensitive plant (Bot.), either one of two annual
leguminous herbs (Cassia Chamaecrista, and Cassia
nictitans), in both of which the leaflets close quickly
when the plant is disturbed.
Wild service.(Bot.) See Sorb.
Wild Spaniard (Bot.), any one of several umbelliferous
plants of the genus Aciphylla, natives of New Zealand.
The leaves bear numerous bayonetlike spines, and the
plants form an impenetrable thicket.
Wild turkey. (Zool.) See 2d Turkey.
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